I am extremely glad week five of the NFL season is over. With only the Monday-night game remaining to be played at press time, I am 8-5 in my predictions. I could drop to 8-6 if Miami doesn’t come through for me on my “upset special.”

Here’s hoping the following predictions make for a vastly improved week six. Thankfully, the Bears are back on the schedule. They play in the Sunday-night game in Atlanta. I hope they’ll be seeking some revenge. Last year, it looked as though they had the game in the bag, and then ended up losing on a last-minute field goal. It still hurts when I think about it; I hope Chicago has that same feeling. I’m taking the Bears to avenge that loss and come away with a big road win.

In the games that start at noon, I like Cincinnati at home over the Texans. Green Bay will defeat the Lions at Lambeau. Minnesota should improve to 6-0 with a win in the Metrodome over the Ravens.

In what should be the best game of the week, two undefeated teams collide at the Superdome in New Orleans. Eli Manning and the New York Giants take their 5-0 record up against Drew Brees and the Saints’ 4-0 record. I look for Brees and the Saints to defend their home turf in a very hard-fought battle. This one could possibly come down to a last-minute field goal or possibly even go into overtime.

The Steelers have the Browns at home. They’ve beaten them the last 11 times at Heinz Field. Let’s call it an even dozen after Sunday’s game. Carolina is only one of four road teams I’m picking this week. They are in Tampa Bay to take on the lowly Bucs. Washington is at home against Kansas City. I like the Redskins at FedEx Field. The St. Louis Rams have to travel to Jacksonville. The Jaguars are coming off the wrong end of a total butt kicking by the Seahawks. I look for them to come out fuming and destroy the Rams in front of the Jacksonville faithful.

Speaking of Seattle, they play at home for the second week in a row. This time, they take on the Arizona Cardinals. I’m going with the Seahawks to make it two in a row in front of their “12th man.”

Philadelphia may have the easiest game of the week. They play the Raiders in Oakland. The Raiders look terrible this year. The Eagles don’t. Chalk up another win for Philly. Another team that hasn’t fared so well this season is the winless Titans. Their luck doesn’t look to get any better this week. They have to face New England at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots lost to the Broncos last week, and shouldn’t have any problems bouncing back with a home win in week six.

The Buffalo Bills travel across the state to face the New York Jets in Giants Stadium. Look for the Jets to send them shuffling back to Buffalo with another loss.

Finally, in the Monday-night game, I’m jumping on the Denver bandwagon and taking the Broncos over the Chargers, even though the game is being played in San Diego. If I’m right, former Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton would improve to 6-0 as a Bronco. What self-respecting Bears fan would have ever guessed that? Certainly not I!